2012

David Treasure, Executive Director, Office of Budget Analysis, Maryland Department of Budget and Management

Mr. Treasure was recognized for his nearly forty years of dedicated service to the state of Maryland; twenty-five of those years at the Department of Management & Budget.  He is also recognized for his many years of service to NASBO on our Executive Committee.

2011

Georgina Kawamura, Director, Hawai'i Department of Finance

Ms. Kawamura was recognized for her dedicated service to the state of Hawaii as well as NASBO. In an award nomination Governor Linda Lingle submitted to recognize Georgina as Pacific Business News’ CFO of the Year, Governor Lingle noted that “When I came into office in December 2002, the State was spending $215 million more than it was collecting. Through Georgina’s fiscal prudence and responsible management of the budget, we were able to turn that deficit into a $574 million positive balance in just three years.” Georgina was also instrumental in strengthening and maintaining the state’s bond ratings by all three major rating agencies. In October 2009, Hawai‘i received a rating of “AA” from both Standard and Poor’s Rating Service and Fitch Ratings, and a “Aa2” from Moody’s Investor Service which enabled the state to attract new capital to fund capital improvements, stimulate the economy and create new jobs.

Ms. Kawamura also served for several years on NASBO’s Executive Committee as Chair of the Health, Human Services and Justice Committee, Western Regional Director, and finally as Member-At-Large. She and her staff also hosted the 2008 NASBO Annual Meeting.

2010

Dannette Burch, Deputy Secretary for Budget and Policy, New Mexico Department of Administration and Finance

Ms. Burch was recognized for her 27 years of dedicated service to the state of New Mexico. Of the many accomplishments attributable to Ms. Burch was a leading role in the formation of the Governor’s Performance and Accountability contracts with state agencies. These contracts became the foundation for prioritizing the Governor’s initiatives and related budget proposals in the Executive budget recommendation. The state also benefited from having Ms. Burch on the state’s ARRA team to direct financial controls, reporting standards, and transparency for the state’s stimulus funds.

Ms. Burch also served on NASBO's Executive Committee as Chair of the Health, Human Services and Justice Committee and her office hosted the 2007 Annual Meeting.

2009

Duane Goossen, Secretary, Kansas Department of Administration and Director of the Budget

Mr. Goossen was recognized for his dedicated service to the state of Kansas under both Republican and Democratic governors since 1998. Of the many accomplishments attributable to Mr. Goossen, one of the most important has been his continued emphasis on and support of technology improvements, including the replacement of the state’s payroll, accounting, and budget management system. Under his direction, the state upgraded its budget management system for the first time since an antiquated system was created in the 1970’s. In the nomination, Troy Findley, Chief of Staff to Governor Sebelius, noted that Mr. Goossen’s “ability to take the most complex of issues and boil it down into an easily understandable explanation is a true talent and asset.”

Mr. Goossen also served as NASBO President, Chair of the Training, Education, and Human Resources Management Committee, Midwest Regional Director, Chair of the Nominations Committee, and Chair of the Awards Committee.

2008

Richard Weiss, Director, Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration

Mr. Weiss was recognized for his successful and continuing performance of significant management and fiscal responsibilities over 35 years of public service in state government along with his dedicated service to NASBO. His nomination noted that his exemplary public service and qualities of leadership have earned him respect, admiration and many rewards and commendations over the course of his career. Mr. Weiss has served as a trusted advisor to five Governors from both political parties and has also earned the respect and trust of thousands who have served in the General Assembly during his time in government. Mr. Weiss also served as NASBO Southern Regional Director and Chair of the Tax, Commerce, Physical Resources, and Transportation Committee. He also served on the Nominations Committee.

2007

Rosemary Booth Gallogly, State Budget Officer, Rhode Island Department of Administration

Ms. Booth Gallogly was recognized for her for successful and continuing performance of significant management and fiscal responsibilities over twenty-seven years of public service in state government along with her dedicated service to NASBO. During her tenure, she has been instrumental in creating and implementing a comprehensive multi-fund five year capital planning process, replacing issue-and-spend bond expenditures as well as administering the increasing use of complex borrowing models. Her nomination noted her patience, fairness, and thoroughness in all aspects of formulation and implementation of the state and agency budgets. It also mentioned her leadership, wisdom, and vision which helped make her the unequivocal financing expert for the state.

Ms. Booth Gallogly also served as NASBO President; Chair of the Training, Education and Human Resources Management Committee; and three times as Eastern Regional Director. She also served as Chair of the Awards Committee, Nominations Committee and as a member of the Executive Training Committee. For many years she also served as NASBO’s representative on the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council.

2006

Gerry Oligmueller, State Budget Administrator, Nebraska Department of Administrative Services

Mr. Oligmueller was recognized for his successful and continuing performance of significant management and fiscal responsibilities over twenty-seven years of public service in state government along with his dedicated service to NASBO. Mr. Oligmueller was nominated for this award by Governor Heineman who noted that Gerry is in his eleventh year as State Budget Administrator, having served in that position for three Governors, spanning a period of time unequalled by any previous Administrator. Early on in his career, Gerry was instrumental in installing a new budget application that provided immediate benefits of productivity, efficiency, and accuracy in the state budget process. Mr. Oligmueller is now also serving as Director of the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services with key enterprise responsibilities in the areas of insurance, risk management, personnel, accounting, and procurement.

Mr. Oligmueller served on NASBO's Executive Committee as President, Chair of the Health, Human Services, and Justice Committee, and as a member of the Executive Training Committee.

2005 (co-recipient)

John Perry Comeaux, Budget Director, Nevada Department of Administration

Mr. Comeaux was recognized for his dedication and extensive knowledge of financial management for the State of Nevada and for his continual support of NASBO. Mr. Comeaux served as Budget Director from 1993 until 2005. In addition to his duties as Budget Director, he also served as the Director of the Department of Administration, the Clerk of the Board of Examiners, and a member of the Public Works Board, the Information Technology Strategic Planning Committee and the Board of College Savings Plans of Nevada. He was instrumental in initiating innovative ways to finance capital improvement projects helping to guide a successful lease-purchase program for the state. Mr. Comeaux was also recognized for his fiscal responsibility and his willingness to make difficult decisions to help Nevada maintain a high credit rating during times of financial crisis.

Mr. Comeaux served on NASBO's Executive Committee as Western Regional Director and also chaired the Awards and Nomination Committees. He also hosted the 2002 Annual Meeting.

Cynthia Eisenhauer, former Director, Iowa Department of Management

Ms. Eisenhauer was recognized for her commitment to innovation and excellence for the state of Iowa and her dedication to NASBO. Ms. Eisenhauer held many roles in Iowa state government over the years including Director of the Department of Workforce Development, Director of the Department of Management and most recently she was named Chief of Staff to Governor Tom Vilsack. Ms. Eisenhauer was specifically recognized for helping to develop budgets that steered additional resources to the Governor's priorities for K-12 class size reduction, expanded health care coverage for children and a cleaner environment. She was also recognized for maintaining a structural balance in the budget and maintaining full budget reserves.

Ms. Eisenhauer has earned numerous national awards for innovation, technology, and excellence in public service including the National Public Administrator of the Year from the National Employees Council, Ford Foundation's Innovation in Government Award, and Excellence in Public Service from the National Public Employees Roundtable.

Ms. Eisenhauer also served on NASBO's Executive Committee in numerous capacities as well as hosted the 2000 and 2004 Midwest/West Regional Meetings.

2004

Lynne Ward, former Director, Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget

Ms. Ward was recognized for her commitment and service to NASBO and a career of accomplishments which have had a significant, positive impact on the State of Utah. As a CPA with both a financial and auditing background, her ability to incorporate into budget analysis and documents the precision of accounting formats and principles increased the professionalism and quality of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget during her tenure. Ms. Ward used her organizational skills to formalize many processes and procedures from standardized publications to aligning the office with statutory responsibilities. During Ms. Ward’s tenure, Utah received high praise from professional associations, newspapers and magazines for maintaining a AAA bond rating, a very conservative budget with frequent tax cuts, modest bond issues, paying cash for many capital projects and reacting quickly to reduce budgets after the economic downturn in 2001.

Ms. Ward served for 11 years as Budget Director and also served on NASBO's Executive Committee as President, Western Regional Director, Chair of the Financial Management, Systems and Data Reporting Committee, and Chair of the Tax, Commerce, Physical Resources and Transportation Committee. Ms. Ward also chaired the George A. Bell Service Award and Nomination Committees. She hosted the 1995 Western Region Meeting and the 2003 Annual Meeting.

2003

Stephen Richman, former Assistant Chief Budget Examiner, New York Division of the Budget

Mr. Richman was recognized for his dedication and creativity in restructuring New York state’s child protection and welfare programs, as well as, his outstanding leadership to NASBO. Mr. Richman worked as a principal analyst on the Purchase of Services project that resulted in a billion dollar federal aid claim in support of state-supported services to public assistance clients. He also took the lead in the development, approval, and implementation of New York’s Child Welfare Reform Act of 1979 partnering local government and the not-for-profit community in family support preventive services. The federal Foster Care and Adoption Law of 1980 was largely patterned after this legislation. Mr. Richman was also instrumental in pension reform, privatization of government services, productivity legislation, and a comprehensive effort to revamp state accounts receivable policies and practices.

Mr. Richman served in the Division of the Budget for over a quarter century and served NASBO on the Executive Committee as President, Eastern Regional Director, Chair of the Education and Human Resources Committee, and Member-At-Large.

2002 (Co-Recipient)

Ric Brown, Director, Virginia Department of Planning and Budget

Mr. Brown was recognized for his talent, dedication, and work ethic in addressing budget challenges in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. Brown’s career represents a life-long commitment to public service. When Virginia experienced an economic downturn in 1990, Mr. Brown was a chief architect among the team to bring prosperity back to Virginia. Mr. Brown has a vast technical understanding of the financial mechanism of Virginia and his knowledge is encyclopedic. He has the talent for being able to integrate vast knowledge with the demands of the current environment. The result is creativity and innovation that far exceeds technical knowledge. Mr. Brown has been active with NASBO for over 20 years and has participated in various NASBO projects over the years. For example, Mr. Brown was extremely helpful in the development of NASBO’s capital budgeting report and has overseen the data provided by Virginia that are published in NASBO reports.

Bill Hintze, Deputy State Budget Director, Kentucky Governor's Office for Policy and Management

Mr. Hintze was recognized for the knowledge and credibility that he has brought to all of Kentucky state government. Mr. Hintze has served as Kentucky’s Deputy Budget Director for over 15 years and for 29 years as a professional of Kentucky state government. He was recognized for his professionalism that transcends different administrations. Key leaders in Kentucky state government have consistently sought Mr. Hintze’s expertise in legislative testimony as well as budget discussions. In addition to his overall knowledge, Mr. Hintze was recognized for his expertise in the capital planning and capital construction process and his work through consent decrees, corrections management, and juvenile justice programs.

2001 (Co- Recipient)

Robert Bittenbender, former Secretary of the Budget, Pennsylvania Office of the Budget

Mr. Bittenbender was recognized for his record of strategic fiscal management and fiscal policy leadership and has served Pennsylvania with distinction for nearly four decades. Mr. Bittenbender is universally respected in Pennsylvania and among his colleagues nationally for his expert knowledge, his dedication to excellence and his professional integrity. Over the past 4 decades, Mr. Bittenbender was involved in the most significant fiscal developments in Pennsylvania. These have included developing a program budgeting system, supervising the capital budgeting process, managing bond and short-term financing, and proposing the creation of a rainy day fund. Mr. Bittenbender served as the budget director under two governors and his career of service has spanned the terms of six governors.

Mr. Bittenbender is a past president of NASBO and was involved actively in the organization since 1967. He has chaired numerous NASBO committees and was instrumental in developing an on-line training program for the organization. He hosted two annual meetings and three regional meetings during his tenure.

Sheila Peterson, Director, Fiscal Management Division, North Dakota Office of Management and Budget

Ms. Peterson was recognized for her leadership that has had a significant impact on the financial status of North Dakota. Ms. Peterson has been the Executive Budget Analyst and Director of Fiscal Management during the terms of three governors. One of Ms. Peterson’s major accomplishments was her leadership in the creation of the electronic state budget system. The system is a national model in state budgeting. Ms. Peterson was also responsible for establishing a capital budget with both short-term and long-term projections.

Ms. Peterson has been actively involved in NASBO and has served as president and been chair of various committees. During her tenure as president, the organization developed a strategic plan. Ms. Peterson is also a permanent member of the Reforming States Group and has assisted NASBO with joint projects including the development of the state health care expenditure report.